Salt Lake Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Brett Kobernik

BOTTOM LINE

Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)


Danger Rose Tutorial

Today's advisory was compiled and written by snow and avalanche apprentice Wendy Wagner.

The avalanche danger will be generally LOW through the day today. Keep an eye out for wet avalanches on all aspects at lower elevations and steer clear of steep gullies and terrain traps where wet activity can pile up debris several feet deep.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

Skies are mostly clear this morning with mountain temperatures in the mid to low 20's with light to moderate southwest winds. On the snow surface, any aspects with a southerly component are pretty well crusted up and supportable from yesterday. However, upper elevation northerly aspects still hold soft settled snow.

RECENT ACTIVITY

The only avalanche activity reported from yesterday was minor wet loose snow sluffing in the new snow. One of these slides however did gouge into the old damp snow underneath. Otherwise, it was a fairly quite day in the backcountry.

THREAT #1
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 4 hours.

Wet activity will again be the main concern for today. However increasing cloud cover and winds will keep things from heating up too much. Also, keep in mind wet slab avalanches and glide avalanches do not always reflect what is happening on the surface and can break out anytime, especially at mid and lower elevations where the snowpack is damp to the ground.

THREAT #2
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

There is an off chance that the not very exciting storm coming in today could produce several inches of snow later in the day. In this case watch for sluffing in the new snow and steer clear of terrain traps where snow can pile up. Also, remember we do have a mid-pack weakness that still warrants attention on northerly aspects at mid and upper elevations.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

We have a storm moving in today and clouds should increase as the day progresses. Ridgetop temperatures will be in the upper 20's to low 30's and drop this afternoon as the cold front slides through. Winds will increase throughout the day from the southwest then turn northwest with averages in the moderate range and stronger gusts on the ridgelines. Flurries are possible this afternoon and we may see accumulation of up to a few inches by sundown.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The ability to deal with medical emergencies is a vital backcountry travel skill. On April 9-11, Utah Wilderness Safety will be conducting a Wilderness & Remote First Aid course in SLC. As an added bonus, WMS has agreed to donate a percent of the class proceeds to the FUAC. For more details, go to our events calendar or www.utahwildernesssafety.com/FIRST-AID.html.

SLC: Please contact Alta Central (801-742-2033) if you trigger a large avalanche in the backcountry, especially if you are adjacent to a ski area, to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Ogden: Please contact Snowbasin ski patrol (801620-1000/1017) if you trigger a large avalanche in the backcountry, especially if you are adjacent to a ski area, to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Provo: Please contact Sundance ski patrol (801 -223-4150) if you trigger a large avalanche in the backcountry, especially if you are adjacent to a ski area, to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Discount Lift tickets: Ski Utah, Backcountry.com and the local resorts donated lift tickets, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Utah Avalanche Center. To get the last few tickets left for Park City, Beaver Mountain, and Sundance – click here at discounted prices.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides flight plan.

Dawn Patrol Forecast Hotline, updated by 05:30:888-999-4019 option 8.

Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

Free UAC iPhone app from Canyon Sports.

Subscribe to the daily avalanche advisory e-mail click HERE.

UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838

We appreciate all your avalanche and snow observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, or fill out the observation form on our home page.

Donate to your favorite non-profit – The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work.

The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Bruce will update this forecast tomorrow morning. Thanks for calling.

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done.  This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

This advisory provided by the USDA Forest Service, in partnership with:

The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Unified Fire Authority and the friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. See our Sponsors Page for a complete list.